RoboCopy command with a space in the UNC

are you sure its the space?

I may incorrect but I dont think

\\server\adiminstativeshare$\folder

is a legal path?

Try moving the first (opening) quote inside the \\

Advise.

In any windows long file name path, especially with spaces, always use the "quotes" --

C:\This directory\My folder\ here is the file   -- that will give windows fatal siezures.

But -- "C:\This directory\My folder\ here is the file"   -- that is copacetic, windows loves it, because of the quotes.

there are missing quotes in your batchfile: place them always before and after the complete UNC-path.

I recently hired on to a new job and was writing a script to help with some file replication using trusty old Robocopy but everytime I tried to copy from the local PC I too got this error "ERROR 123 (0x0000007B) Accessing Source Directory c:\temp\docs.txt\The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect."

Now I know the path is correct. I know it is. I have xcopied the same file... in fact I just deleted the "robo" & added "x" into the script ad ran it again without any issues. I've ran it as admin, so it's not a permissions issue. I can use it when the source is something other than the local hard drive and it works as always. The only time I get a problem is copying from the C:\, and that doesn't jive.

I've ran this on NT 4.0 (SP6a) & Win2K boxes and got the same error. I've tried both 1.95 & 1.96 & again same error. I've changed directories c:\tbd or C;\temp, used quotes for both source or target directories, ran as admin.....as myself.....I'm puzzled.

The command resembles this c:\temp\docs.txt c:\tbd /mir /np , so you see there's nothing fancy happening here. I gotta be overlooking something but I couldn't tell you what it is.....

The same command will work if I change the drive letters to a network share, so what's the deal? Can you help?

Maybe I'm overlooking something, if so I apologize but I'm stumped. Thanks again.

-Chad

When I was getting the syntax is incorrect error, it turned out to be as simple as having an extra \ at the end of the destination UNC. Robocopy did not read this as the end of the path so read the destination as \\server2\d$\Group\Business Plan" \MIR \R\  - including the switches!
This might be irrelevent, but in your error you have also got this errant backslash:
"c:\temp\docs.txt\"
If this is no help then put in the full error in and I'll try to replicate it.

Scotty.

I noticed that "\" as well but I didn't type it, rather that's what robocopy is returning. I assumed it was just a function of the app.

All I am doing at this point is trying to copy a test file from 1 temp dir to another temp dir off the local PC. So this is what I type;

robocopy c:\test\file.doc c:\tbd

No switches, just to elimainate possible errors. I can run xcopy with the same locales with no issues. I've ran robocopy hundreds of times....literally, and never seen this. I am assuming I'm overlooking something silly & I'll feel stupid when someone points it out but at this point it's worth it.  

Also I can change drive letters & it'll run smoth. So if I copy from the netowrk to my PC, no problems. PC to network....whoa there, that's crazy talk. Very bizarre.

Thanks for the help.

-Chad

OK, I think I see a pattern but I'm not sure how to fix it.

I've noticed that when I specify a file in the robocopy command the "\" is included at the end of the path in the description & log, which would appear to doing what you suggested.....appending the path. The thing is I'm not including it in the command or the script. This is why it's not working.....but if I just specify a folder then it'll run fine. So the problem is specifying single files to be copied. How can I get robocopy to copy over a single file without generating an error?

I only need 4 small files from a decent sized folder, it'd be a shame if I had to bring it all over & do a del *.extension.....missing something here. Why is it doing this? Thanks.

-Chad

I've just lookied at all of my old robocopy scripts & I can't find a single one that copies over a specific file. It's always a whole directory (ies). I never noticed that. All this time. I do have one that I don't remember writing  from 1999 that us /XD & /XF for a directory......perhaps this is why?

I knew I'd feel silly.

That's by design; have a look at robocopy.doc or the extended help of robocopy:
Usage : ROBOCOPY source destination [file [file]...] [options]
source : Source Directory (drive:\path or \\server\share\path).
destination : Destination Dir  (drive:\path or \\server\share\path).
file : File(s) to copy  (names/wildcards: default is "*.*").

Source and Destination are *directories*; files (or exclusions) have to be listed separately.

Well I read through that doc half a dozen times in an effort to double check my assumptions  & somehow missed that......but you're right. It's all in there. Man, that's embarrassing. Thanks for taking the time to straighten me out. Much appreciated.

-Chad

With robocopy you need to place the quotes correctly. Using your example: C:\This directory\My folder\ you need to use "C:\This directory\My folder"\ but place the second quotes prior to the backslash. This can be used for UNC paths as well and for source and destination directories.

bodhi1971:

Your robocopy command should read robocopy c:\temp\ c:\tbd docs.txt /mir /np

robocop[y source destination files to copy defaults to *.* options.